Parental practices to promote healthy eating habits in early childhood in Cali, Colombia

Introduction: Considering the influence of the family environment in the development of healthy habits during early childhood, the purpose of the present study was to explore the practices used by parents to promote a healthy eating in their children between 1 to 5 years old from Cali, Colombia. Material and Methods: A mixed-method study was conducted, with a qualitative and a quantitative phase. Twenty parents were interviewed in-depth in the qualitative phase. With this information, the Child Rearing Practices to Promote Healthy Habits Questionnaire was created. With the feeding practices scale a sample of 170 parents from different socioeconomic levels was evaluated. Results: The parents reported using adequate responsive practices to promote healthy eating habits (such us monitoring the child's food intake, establish limits with adequate control levels, dispose healthy food at home, reinforce healthy habits and stimulate children to eat healthy food), but they also use indulgent and non-responsive practices. Parents from low socioeconomic level reported practices that are more inadequate. Conclusions: Parents use a wide range of practices with different intentions and styles in order to promote child eating habits, showing differences within their socioeconomic status. Results highlight the necessity of promoting knowledge and parental rearing abilities related to eating habits.